Calla lily plant named ‘Sumatra’

ABSTRACT

‘Sumatra’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a purple-colored spathe that produces 5-15 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 40 cm in height, and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘SUMATRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Sumatra’.

‘Sumatra’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Black Star’ (female parent, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 14,844) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referredto as C03002 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Sumatra’ was selected in 2006by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sumatra’ by tissue culture wasperformed by the inventor in September of 2006 in 't Zand, TheNetherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at thesame location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsas herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproducedtrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in a 14 cm pot at 12-14 weeks after planting in 't Zand, TheNetherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate thosegenerally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made toThe 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Sumatra’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Purple-colored spathe;    -   2. Compact growth habit; and    -   3. High inflorescence production.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Samur’ (unpatented),the upper surface spathe color of ‘Samur’ varies between Red-PurpleGroup RHS 68B and 68C, whereas the upper surface spathe color of‘Sumatra’ varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A and 59B. When comparedto calla lily plant named ‘Accent’ (pending U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 14/544,476), ‘Accent’ demonstrates more numerousmaculations on its upper and lower leaf surfaces than ‘Sumatra’.Additionally, the leaf margin color of ‘Accent’ varies between GreenGroup RHS 137A and 137D, while the leaf margin color of ‘Sumatra’ variesbetween Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187A to 187B.

Table 1 provides similarities and differences of ‘Sumatra’ to itsparents, Zantedeschia sprengeri ‘Black Star’ and selection C03002.

TABLE 1 ‘Sumatra’ Similarities Differences ‘Black Star’ Spathe shapeSpathe color (Both upper and lower surfaces vary between Greyed-PurpleGroup RHS 187A to Black Group RHS 202A) Plant height (50-65 cm) C03002Leaf shape Number of inflorescences (3-10) Plant height Spathe color(Pink—RHS value unknown)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at12-14 weeks after planting, with the colors being as nearly true as ispossible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of a plant of the newvariety; and

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a group of multiple plants of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT The Plant

-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—8-42 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescence above the soil.—13-40 cm.        -   Diameter.—20-40 cm.-   Form: Erect.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-9 inflorescences.        -   Size 16-18 cm in diameter.—7-15 inflorescences.        -   Size 18-20 cm in diameter.—8-24 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Character.—Many (from 3-7); like the variety ‘Odessa’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 18,833).        -   Color.—Between Greyed-Purple Group RHS 187B and 187C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Width: 1.5-9 cm. Length: 7-27 cm.        -   Number per plant.—20-30.        -   Shape.—Acuminate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137A to 137B, with            transparent White Group RHS 155A and 155C spots. Lower            surface: Green Group RHS 143A to 143B, with transparent            White Group RHS 155A and 155C spots.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Undulate; having a color of Greyed-Purple Group RHS            187A to 187B.        -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 143A            to 143B.        -   Surface quality.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3-22 cm. Diameter: 9 mm. Color: The base is            White Group RHS 155A, and the upper part is Green Group RHS            143A to 143B.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White.        -   Branching.—Similar to other Zantedeschia varieties.

The Inflorescence and Seeds

-   Spathe:    -   -   Size.—Length (measured from base opening to tip): 3-10 cm.            Width: 2.5-7 cm. Height: 3.5-9 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Varies between Red-Purple Group RHS            59A and 59B. Lower surface: Varies between Greyed-Purple            Group RHS 185C and 186C.        -   Vein color.—Between Red-Purple Group RHS 59A and 59B.        -   Shape.—Cupped.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Texture.—Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).-   Spadix:    -   -   Size.—Length: 17-40 mm. Diameter: 2-8 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 8A and 8B.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Size.—Length: 5-33 cm. Diameter: 3-13 mm.        -   Color.—The upper part is between Green Group RHS 141B and            141C, and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.        -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.            Number: More than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant and similar to            ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), but not quantifiable            due to minute pollen size. Color: Between White Group RHS            155A and 155B.        -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between            Yellow Group RHS 8A and 8B.        -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group            RHS 155A and 155B.        -   Pistil.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1            mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group            RHS 2C and 2D.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:            Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow Group            RHS 2C and 2D, bottom color is from White Group RHS 155B to            157C.-   Seeds:    -   -   Length.—4-7 mm.        -   Width.—3-6 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A.        -   Amount.—Between 1-40.-   Fruit:    -   -   Amount.—Multiple berries produced.        -   Shape.—Irregular.        -   Color.—Main color varies between Yellow-Green Group RHS 145A            to 145C and a secondary color as a spot surrounding the            stigma varies between Red-Purple Group RHS 59C to 60B.

General

-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases noticed to    date.-   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed to date.-   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance.-   Hardiness: Not hardy.-   Flowering: Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands in    February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted outdoors in    The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in July. In general,    the time from planting to first flowering takes eight weeks.    However, tubers stored for a longer period before planting may    flower earlier—up to five weeks after planting.-   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant.-   Fragrance: None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named‘Sumatra’ as herein described and illustrated.